Vom Stein, Riesling Smaragd trocken 2014 1500ml Magnum

Wine Description for Vom Stein Riesling Smaragd Dry 2014 1500ml Magnum by Nikolaihof

Colour & Appearance

Luminous, mature golden yellow with subtle amber tones – a wine that already tells in the glass of its depth and a decade of quiet maturation. The viscosity promises substance and density.

Nose

The nose is complex and multi-layered: ripe peach and apricot meet spicy notes of beeswax, petrol and flint. Beneath these lie delicate hints of dried herbs, quince and a fine mineral austerity that unmistakably smells of the primordial rock of the Wachau. A wine that breathes and slowly unfolds in the glass.

Palate

Dry, precise and of impressive tension. The palate displays the classic Wachau Riesling architecture: taut acidity that remains fresh and lively even after ten years, embedded in a ripe, almost oily texture. Notes of yellow stone fruit, citrus peel and salt alternate with a deep, stony minerality. The moderate alcohol of 12.5% holds everything in perfect balance.

Finish

Long, saline and remarkably persistent. The finish lingers with a fine bitter almond note and a hint of white pepper – a testament to the ageing potential of this Smaragd, which still has years ahead of it.

Terroir & Origin

The „Vom Stein“ comes from the steep primary rock terraces of the Wachau, where gneiss and mica schist give the Riesling its unmistakable mineral depth. The Nikolaihof estate in Mautern is among Austria’s oldest wineries – with a history reaching back to Roman times – and manages its vineyard sites according to biodynamic principles.

Grape Variety & Vinification

Pure Riesling in the highest Wachau quality level Smaragd. The Nikolaihof’s biodynamic philosophy is reflected in its natural winemaking approach: minimal intervention, lengthy maturation process. The 1.5-litre magnum bottle promotes particularly slow, even development – ideal for a wine of this format and calibre.

Food Pairing Recommendations

A wine for the grand table. Excellent with pike-perch on sauerkraut, grilled lobster with herb butter, Viennese fried chicken or an elegant calf’s sweetbread with morels. Also an extraordinary experience with aged alpine cheese.

Special Features

This example was released as an Archive Release 2024 – a wine that was allowed to mature in the Nikolaihof cellar until it reached its optimal drinking peak. The magnum format is not a marketing decision, but philosophy: larger formats mature more slowly and develop a complexity that standard bottles simply cannot achieve. A collector’s piece and a pleasure wine in one.